2019 OMRI Generic Materials List Published

By Phoebe Judge

OMRI recently completed a periodic re-review of the OMRI Generic Materials List© and OMRI Standards Manual© for review to the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, and these updates are now available online at OMRI.org. The 2019 revisions reflect updates to the National List, clarification of definitions, reorganization of categories, and other updates as highlighted below. These changes may include input from public comments and technical review, and are approved by the OMRI Board of Directors. While OMRI makes occasional changes to its standards and policies in response to updates from the NOP, this periodic re-review is a more comprehensive project designed to improve consistency, and to address specific issues derived from both external and internal feedback. OMRI strives to make these edits transparent, accurate and consistent with the NOP regulations.

These most significant updates affect three crop input materials: hydroponic growing media, rehydrated processed manure, and high ammoniacal nitrogen liquid fertilizers. OMRI created two new categories: Hydroponic Growing Media (CF) (Allowed) and Hydroponic Growing Media (CF) (Prohibited), confirming that hydroponic growing media are within OMRI’s review scope and certifiers must verify compliance as part of the operator’s organic system plan. The Allowed category of these materials includes the annotation, “Must be composed entirely of allowed nonsynthetic materials, or synthetic materials found on the National List for use as plant or soil amendments. See also TRANSPLANT/CONTAINER MEDIA.” Prohibited growing media are any materials containing synthetic ingredients not listed at §205.601 for plant or soil amendments, or prohibited nonsynthetic materials. The addition of these two categories reflects the understanding from the NOP that synthetic growing media are prohibited in organic hydroponic production.

Another significant change to the standards is the inclusion of a new category, Manure—processed, rehydrated (CF) (Allowed). This unrestricted category clarifies that processed manure that has been rehydrated is allowed both as an independent input and also as an ingredient, provided the processed manure meets the requirements from Guidance 5006. The source manure must be heated to 150°F (66°C) for at least one hour or 165°F (74°C), dried to a maximum moisture level of 12% (or an equivalent heating and drying process), and must not contain more than 1x10³ (1,000) MPN fecal coliform per gram, and must not contain more than 3 MPN Salmonella per 4 grams of processed manure sample. If the processed manure meets the standards in Guidance 5006, and then that manure is rehydrated or added to a blended fertilizer with a higher moisture content, it may be considered an unrestricted input material.

Thirdly, there is a new category for fertilizers with an elevated content of highly soluble nonsynthetic nitrogen, namely ammoniacal nitrogen. This new category, Fertilizers, with high ammoniacal nitrogen (CF) (Allowed with Restrictions), is for nonsynthetic fertilizers that have ammoniacal nitrogen above 3%. The restriction for this category focuses on the concern for potential water and soil contamination resulting from application of highly soluble nitrogen, and OMRI’s annotation specifically refers to the soil fertility and nutrient management standards at §205.203. Based on these changes, OMRI has begun limited re-reviews for products flagged as high nitrogen liquid fertilizers (HNLFs). In addition, OMRI has added information to the Standards Manual regarding the inspection of high nitrogen liquid fertilizers in accordance with Guidance 5012.

There are also a number of smaller changes in the update, which impact the way that OMRI conducts reviews. These changes include an updated definition of humates, to clarify that they must be sourced from leonardite, lignite or coal, and this change will also yield limited re-reviews for these materials, if derived from other nonsynthetic sources. The change makes OMRI’s definition of humates consistent with the NOP’s Guidance 5034-1. Next, sodium nitrate will now have the same restriction as other highly soluble nitrogen products, making the restrictions across similar categories more consistent; these changes will also result in limited re-reviews, and products in this category will receive an updated certificate with the new restriction. In addition, OMRI re-organized the horticultural oils categories to better reflect the names of these materials on the National List, allowing consolidation of the information under Oils, horticultural. Finally, OMRI implemented changes to reflect the updates to the National List in May 2019. The NOP updates included both additions and removals from the National List and the new Generic Materials List reflect these modifications.

Products impacted by modifications to the OMRI standards will undergo a limited re-review process, and OMRI’s website will reflect any changes to listing status, including any new or revised restrictions. The OMRI standards are regularly updated in response to changes to the NOP regulations and the NOP Program Handbook, and public participation is an essential part of the process. Suggested revisions to the OMRI Generic Materials List and OMRI Standards Manual may be submitted at any time by downloading and completing a Comment Form at OMRI.org/commentform.